Without Congress, Janata Parivar's effort to fight BJP futile: Beni

Former Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Thursday termed as futile the efforts of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to bring six political parties of 'Janata parivar' (family) together and said that they would have seek Congress's help in the task of countering resurgent BJP.

Lucknow: Former Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Thursday termed as futile the efforts of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to bring six political parties of 'Janata parivar' (family) together and said that they would have seek Congress's help in the task of countering resurgent BJP.

"Mulayam Singh Yadav is holding a meeting to make a non- Congress, non-BJP alternative to counter the BJP... Whatever alternative is formed, it would have to take the help of Congress," Verma said on Yadav hosting a lunch for leaders of five political parties -- JD(U), JD(S), INLD, SJP and RJD -- at his residence in New Delhi.

"If these parties want to give a tough fight to the BJP, they need to take the help of Congress, if they do not want to do so or do not want to support the Congress, it (Congress) should on its own battle the saffron party with full strength and might," Verma said.

Leaders of six political parties led by SP chief met in New Delhi today and decided to come together to project a joint front against the Modi government in the coming session of Parliament and also did not rule out possibility of a merger in future.

On the Rajya Sabha elections, Verma, a known detractor of Congress nominee P L Punia, said that despite differences on personal front, he was with the Congress leadership on the issue.

"It was decided in the Congress working committee meeting that the decision of the Congress chief would be acceptable to all and now I am with the decision taken by the party to field Punia," Verma said.

He also ruled out any possibility of returning to the Samajwadi Party. "I was with Yadav till he was on the right track... When money and family came in between, we parted ways," he said.

Asked whether he would accept UPCC president's post, Beni said he wanted to work in the state and would accept whatever responsibility was given to him.

Verma termed as "drama" the Jan Dhan Yojana and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he has failed to do anything since taking charge.